Packin it Up!

It's almost time to go to Michigan for the holidays!! I am so excited. The last time we were in Michigan was July. It's hard not seeing your friends & family for 5 months. I really miss everyone and can't wait to spend time with them

Since Mark works until 7 every night I have to pack everything up. I can't believe how much a baby needs! I was thinking it wouldn't be as bad as the first time we made the big trip but when I made my list it seems just as long! Thankfully, we are only going to MI and if I forget anything we can get it there!!!

Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks. Hopefully the next blog I post will be from MICHIGAN!!!!

Gifts from Auntie Pantie Rosemary!

Ella is fixin to sit on her own!

Ella and Nola are best friends.

Ella in her new tub seat!

Ella helped me wrap gifts!

We shopped til we dropped!


The other day I experimented with a sippy cup. She knows what it's for but I'm not sure she really knows how to use it.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

I'm so excited for Christmas this year. It will be our first Christmas with little Ella. I've been talking to Santa and letting him know that we may need him to come to our house a little early this year so we can have Christmas here and in Michigan.

I got the Christmas tree up the Monday after Thanksgiving. We only have a few weeks to enjoy it before we go to Michigan. Ella was sleeping while I decorated it and was kind of weirded out when she woke up to it. She loves it now and just looks at it.

I was quick to get on the Christmas pictures this year. I took Ella to see Santa during the week so that there wouldn't be a big line and I got some pictures of her outside before it got too cold.

I Thought We Live in Texas?

The first week of December was soooo cold. It SNOWED! It hasn't even snowed in Michigan and it's snowing in Texas. Some of it stuck but then the sun came out and very quickly melted it. Thank goodness!! ;-) I grabbed Ella and put her in front of the window so she could see her first snow.

Outside my front & back doors

November Wrap Up...

Ella has changed so much in November. I can't believe all of the things she can do now. She laughs, smiles ALL the time, she is starting to army crawl and roll around the living room. She also started to eat in her high chair and when we go to restaurants she sits in the high chair like a big girl. She loves her Nola. When Nola walks past her she smiles and laughs and when Nola is sitting next to us she wants to pet Nola and pull her ears and fur. Nola is such a good sport. She just gives her baby sister kisses.

We have also noticed that Ella likes to sleep on her knees. I really can't see how it's comfortable but almost every morning she wakes up with her little knees all red.


Here are some pictures of my sweet sweet girl!

Thanksgiving Weekend!

We had company over our Thanksgiving break. Mark's parents came and spent Thursday-Sunday with us. It was nice to have family in town. Mark, Ella, Nola, and his parents went for a walk and I was alone for the first time in 5 months... it was wonderful... for a short time. I was happy to have my family back when they got home!

I got to dress my sweet girl up in a pretty dress...

My Aunt Paula cooked on Friday. Since the Darket's came in on Thursday we thought it might be easier if we had our Thanksgiving on Friday. Also, my Uncle Jerry and Aunt Alberta were in town to see the Morone's and Ryan and Kyle went to the A&M game on Thursday. Friday was just a better fit!! Since Paula cooked I made yummy desserts. I was really pleased with my desserts.

Pumpkin Pie

Praline Pumpkin Cake

I love baking. Everything was SO good and I'm happy Paula cooked this year. Maybe next year when Ella is a little older I'll cook again.

When everyone was here we went to the Gaylord Texan for ICE! It was so cool. The Gaylord is so beautiful. I think it's a spot I'll be using again to take pictures. It was designed to look like San Antonio with a little River Walk and Missions. It was decorated for Christmas. Just beautiful!

The Ice sculpture was SO cool. We had to wear huge parkas. I thought it was kind of crazy, after a we are Michiganders. When I asked the guy if it was really necessary he told us that it was 9degrees inside. That's cold. So, we all bundled in big blue parkas and went into the cold.

The theme was "The Grinch Stole Christmas". I can't believe everything was made of ice. It was soo cold. I thought Ella would be miserable but she enjoyed being bundled and eventually fell asleep. Sweet baby.